On a tangent: I hope none of you guys ever boo our team when you get out to the stadium, no matter how bad a season they are having. I went to many games while I was up there, and never once booed our guys. I did plenty of it directed at officials, Cowboys and other opponents, but NEVER at the Redskins. I hate hearing them booed in our own stadium.

I agree with you up to a certain point. I will never BOO the Redskins along as they play hard. Ocassional mental mistakes/bad reads/losses are part of the game and I will never Boo them for that. However if the team plays with no effort/energy or attitude, I will voice my displeasure. These guys get paid a ton of money and I do not accept lack of effort.

Well, to each his own, I guess. To me, once some people decide it is OK to boo the guys because THEY think the team is dogging it, it gets a lot easier for them and others to boo them any other time. I saw it happen a lot on TV over the past few years when they were down, and it was very disappointing to me. When I used to go to games (through 1989), it seemed the Redskin fans were a cut above the rest, and virtually always supported our guys. Booing the home team was left to Eagles and Giants fans. But I guess some of that happens everywhere, now. But, hopefully, our fans will never sink to the level of Eagles fans LOL!!!! (We haven't even come close, yet).

Another point about perceived "dogging". If that, indeed, is what is happening on the field, booing is never going to help. In George Allen's tenure, he was very vocal during the week about what he expected from the fans. It started with a long standing ovation during introductions, and continued with undiminished support for the team. I was at the stadium many times when things were not going well, sometimes play looked a bit sluggish, the fans had gotten quiet, and THEN: The fans gradually began cheering or chanting until the stadium was erupting with noise. Several times it did seem to motivate the players. Allen always talked about how much the 12th player meant, and WE all bought into it. It did not ALWAYS work, but teams hated playing here. Nothing motivates a visiting team more than hearing the home team getting booed.

Most of that fan attitude carried into Joe Gibbs' years here. I sure hope it has returned with his return!! I would rather see someone quietly head toward the exits than give our opponents the satisfaction of hearing them boo the Redskins.

__________________ John Shaffer
National Fantasy Sports Leagues, Inc.
Home of "The BEST Game In Town" since 1990

If it's supposed to be anonymous that's fine, but I'd like to hear why whoever it was thinks they'll be that bad.

I voted Top 10.

My only areas of concern are D-line, and pass coverage in the secondary. I'll be watching Shawn Springs closely to see what kind of dropoff we'll see there. Haley, Griffin, and Noble are going to be the keys to the defense. If opposing teams can run on us, and the linebackers, who are supposedly responsible for all the QB pressure, are all in the backfield while the running back is carrying the ball 5 yards through the line, then we'll be in real trouble. But I'm sure Gregg Williams won't let that happen over and over -- unlike the last coordinator we had. So coaching by itself should present a significant upgrade.

I believe we will see much more of a swarming, attacking defense that plays cohesively. There will be an adjustment period where big plays will happen, but by mid season (hopefully before) everything will come together just fine.

The Skins wont have the worst defense, theres no way that happens this year.

A good reason why they wont be last is because our offense is going to be on the field a lot, no more three and outs every drive like we're used to having. We're going to have plenty of long drives, and probably some quick ones comign from Portis breaking one big.

__________________ "I'm used to winning, coming from the University of Miami. " Clinton Portis